Joe Fitzgibbon came by doorbelling the other day, and he was generous to a fault with his time as we (WSB user Julie and I) grilled him about various issues. The least I can do for him in return is to summarize some of his answers to our questions. Keep in mind, of course, that I am very likely to have summarized some of his positions badly, and he would probably rephrase almost everything I have written. :-)
Education
* On how to improve education: money.
* On where to get the money: taxes, elimination or reduction of wasteful spending (see below), and federal Race To The Top money.
* On whether he supports Race To The Top policies: right direction, but they go too far.
* On what "accountability measures" he would support in education: he was vague.
* On whether he would support an aggressive state RTTP application that teachers unions opposed: no, but he thought it unlikely that Gregoire would submit such an application.
Taxes and Spending
* On how he plans to raise taxes as a state legislator: use his position to convince voters to raise taxes on themselves.
* On I-1098: a great leap forward.
* On what constitutes wasteful spending: tax breaks and loopholes for agricultural and financial companies, and various other companies, though he admits this totals only tens of millions of dollars.
* On what taxes he would support lowering or eliminating: B&O, for both small and large companies. Shunt "various" taxes to income taxes.
* On regressive consumption taxes versus volatile income taxes: it's a balancing act, but we're unbalanced right now.
Election Reform
* On alternative voting systems, like IRV: doesn't know much about them, but not necessarily opposed.
* On money in politics: initiative system has been corrupted by big money, and needs mending.
Greenness
* On the environment: increase taxes on polluters to pay for stormwater runoff pollution clean-up, pass Clean Water Act of 2010.
* On transportation: shift transportation funds from roads to transit, bicycling, and walking infrastructure.
Religion
* On whether religion has a place in public policy: no.
Overall, I was impressed by his responses and demeanor. Julie concurred.
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